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A review by meadforddude
Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare
4.0
The plotting and density of the thematic purpose throughout are a marked evolution for Shakespeare as a storyteller, but the characters (in my opinion) suffer considerably at least in part as a result of this shift in emphasis. The violence - though purposeful - is truly grotesque and genuinely horrifying to bear witness to throughout the play.
Shakespeare's language here is much more playful and rich as well, but I can't help but think this would have benefited from having been afforded more room to sprawl. It's one of Shakespeare's shortest plays so far, and it feels like we hardly get introduced to certain characters before they're dispatched in pointedly gruesome fashion. Maybe the slightness is necessary so that the violence doesn't seem oppressively cruel. I dunno. Who am I to second-guess Shakespeare?
I have seen the 1999 Julie Taymor film, and it certainly left an impression on me at the time. Even so, the violence on the page is just as bracing to encounter. Maybe even more so. This is a good thing, overall, I think.
Shakespeare's language here is much more playful and rich as well, but I can't help but think this would have benefited from having been afforded more room to sprawl. It's one of Shakespeare's shortest plays so far, and it feels like we hardly get introduced to certain characters before they're dispatched in pointedly gruesome fashion. Maybe the slightness is necessary so that the violence doesn't seem oppressively cruel. I dunno. Who am I to second-guess Shakespeare?
I have seen the 1999 Julie Taymor film, and it certainly left an impression on me at the time. Even so, the violence on the page is just as bracing to encounter. Maybe even more so. This is a good thing, overall, I think.